Models from across the globe will represent their country at this year’s Final Model Search Competition hosted by the Golden Nugget Resort and Casino.

Worldwide, thousands of beautiful contestants participate in regional preliminary model search events throughout the year. Winners from these regional events then move on to each country’s National Model Search, where they compete to represent their country in the iconic Miss Hawaiian Tropic International Model Search Finals.

This year’s event marks the 25th Anniversary of the competition and appropriately will be themed Silver and Gold. Silver, representing the 25th year of the model search, and gold honoring the host hotel, the Golden Nugget. The best models in the world will vie for the title of Miss Hawaiian Tropic International, as well as a share of $25,000 in cash plus prizes awarded to the Top 10. Additionally, there will be cash and prizes awarded by sponsors Earthcam, Yamaha, artist Bill Mack and Bennett productions for future modeling and appearance contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Miss Hawaiian Tropic International 2007, Estonian Anna Naroznaja, will host the festivities along with celebrity judges and VIPs, before bequeathing her crown and passing on her duties to the next Hawaiian Tropic Model hopeful.

The Miss Hawaiian Tropic International model contestants will have a week-long schedule of activities including photo shoots, rigorous rehearsals, scheduled meet and greets at the Golden Nugget and The Hawaiian Tropic Zone, and media interviews. The preliminary swimsuit contest will be held May 9 at 6 p.m. at The Tank, the Golden Nugget’s spectacular pool and 200,000-gallon shark aquarium, and will be open to the public.

All of the week’s events and activities lead up to the Miss Hawaiian Tropic International Final Model Search May 10 at 8 p.m. — a full evening of beauty and grace. The Finals, viewed live by thousands, will be held on the Fremont Street Experience’s First Street Stage. The Final Model Search will be a spectacular delight incorporating the lights from the Fremont Street Experience’s Viva Vision Lightshow and a live performance by the multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated band Everclear, including songs from their newly released album "The Vegas Years." The competition will be filmed and a one hour show will be broadcast this summer.

Everclear has long been known for reflecting on their band roots by recording and performing a dynamic and eclectic array of covers. Now the best of these recordings have been compiled for the 2008 release, “The Vegas Years” (Capitol/EMI), marking Everclear’s 15th year as recording artists. Produced by Everclear singer, guitarist and songwriter Art Alexakis, the album features 14 cover tracks the band recorded between 1994 and 2008, including versions of Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl” and Paul Revere & The Raiders’ “Kicks.”

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ABOUT GOLDEN NUGGET LAS VEGAS

Winner of the AAA Four-Diamond Award since 1977, the Golden Nugget Las Vegas is the most luxurious resort on the Fremont Street Experience, and consistently receives critical acclaim for exceeding customer expectations. The Golden Nugget offers more than 1,900 deluxe guest rooms and suites; a high-energy casino featuring the most popular slot and video poker machines, table games, race and sports book and poker room; nightly entertainment; world-class restaurants; luxury spa and salon and The Tank, a year-round outdoor swimming pool complete with a live shark aquarium. In September 2005, Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. purchased the Golden Nugget hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev., and embarked on a 14-month, $100 million renovation project, which was completed November 2006. In December 2007, the Golden Nugget completed its $60 million Phase II project, which expanded the resort west onto First Street and introduced additional entertainment, event and dining venues. Hotel reservations and additional information are available by calling 800-634-3454, or by booking online at www.goldennugget.com.